David Waldman and Greg Dworkin help us face the challenges of our rapidly changing world through the power of cheery repartee.

Following his election win by 98 points or so, has D embarked upon a retribution tour or an authoritarian spree? Well, it turns out that retribution is only one of the many perks of authoritarianism.  Trump is now suing retired pollster Ann Selzer because she got on his bad side, but also because it’s fun. Liz Cheney actually made him really mad, so she is in for far more than a little civil suit.

As always, we can be thankful for Republican incompetence and rats-in-a-cage instincts. Congress has struck a deal to avert government shutdown, while Trump allies are busy trying to doge the deal. If they want a circular firing squad, the least Dems could do is offer to help pass the ammunition. (Follow Matt Glassman on Blue Sky.) Victoria Spartz, Queen of Chaos, hopes to be the Joe Manchin this time even as John Fetterman gives her a run for the title.

Good news: France has passed its stopgap budget bill! Now they can pay the guy who lifts the flag in Syria. (Follow Charles Lister on Threads.)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has lost a vote of confidence in the German parliament. Not so good news for Olaf, but also pretty bad for Germany and the rest of the free world. Finger pointers in Germany run the risk of running out of fingers. If members of the traffic light coalition can get along, maybe we all can.

You’d think that hunters firing up into the sky would be aiming at drones but no, they were hunting flying bears. It didn’t turn out well for any of the participants.